The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-07-09
OUACHITA FIRE COMPANY AND X. OF
L.. PICNIC.
The GLORIOUS 18th Fi,tingly Celebrated.

One hundred and eleven years ago
the master piece OF all political litera-
ture-the Declaration of Independence
was evolved from the master-mind
Of his age and proclaimed the birth of
natfon-the United States-the great
est and grandest government Of the
world. Ever since, with brief inter-
ruption, on the anniversary of the day
it was given to the worId-the 4th of
July-the people have assembled in
their respective communities and ap-
propriately and fittingly celebrated the
day and returned thanks to the Great
Ruler tor the blessings that lave been
vouch safed them under the everlast-
ing and living principles of that elori-
Gus declaration of a peoples rights and
liberties.
Last Monday the people o: Monroe,
fair women and brave men, sought
the alluring shades Of the virgin forest
to renew their faith in its principles
and to lsindle anew their love for our
common country.
Under the auspices of tho noble Or
ders Of Ouachit, Fire Company No. l,
and the knights OF Labor of America,
grand preparations had been made !;
Heaven smiled on the occasion and the
rains ceased and the sun shone tho
day was celebrated in the good old
fashioned way; everybody was on
pleasure bent and nothing occurred 10
mar il; they danced and sang; bands
discoursed sweet music; the little boys
and girls played TO their hearts content
and after tho speaking the old and the
young ate to the inner mans content :;
and such dinner! But dear reader
you have been to picnics in tho shady
dell when The dinner was prepared by
tender hands of lovely women and
that il is enough said. What a picnic
we all did have! But wc have trav>
eted too fast to get to tho dinner. Be-
fore the hour of dining the speech OF
the occasion was made. The commit
tee on arrangements, representing
Jointly the Fire Company and the *.
of L., in thcfr wisdom had selected
our worthy iellow-citizen and Fireman
and Knight, Mr.. A. Benoit, rs the or
a,or of the day. He spoke as follows !:
Gentlemen of Ouachita Fire Co. No. 1
and Gentlemen of Local Assembly
! No. 1890, knights of Labor of
America, and Ladies' and Gentie-
men:
| This hour there fall4 TO my lot
tho performance OF the most difficult,
and yet the most pleasant task of my
life, viz that OF bidding you welcome
hero. If you Wero to ask me why I
had been selected for tho purpose, l
would candidiy tell you that / did not
know. That there are others in either
or both organizations under whose
auspices we have assembled to-day
more competent than myself there can
be no doubt.
| Let me preface my remarks then
with the statement that shall not de-
tain you long, and Cor two reasons:
First-Ny inability to do 50, and
| Second-Thc known Discrimination
| OF any auuience 10 ltSlcn III lenStn 10
even the widest lights OF fancy clothed
in languago of transcentient beauty
flowing even from tho lips of silver
tOngued orators.
shall not deal in glittering general
tiles, nor will attempt to chain the
lightning, control the thunder nor
shake the earth because-I cant.
AS this is my first attempt to speak in
public, l have committed to this paper
\ fow thoughts, and if you will give me
your attention for a few minutes l will
endeavor to present them to you in as
acceptable a manner as l know how.
My intention, my hope, ladies and
gentlemen, is to please you, aud if you
will only judge me by these, then in
deed l do not fear your verdict.
We have assembled within the siad-
ows of these kings of the forest upon
this memorable day not merely 10 have
a 'picnic," for 1 take it that when VIC
gather around the festnl board, upon
this, the birthday of the greatest and
| grandest nation Ia fact of which history
makes mention, or perhaps ever will
mako mention, we come not merely
| for pleasure, not InoreIy TO pander to
what some would call depravcd appc-
titcs and passions-but we come in
| tIuenced by Il higher and hoIier motive.
We come again to tell the story of 1876.
We como to keep alive, aye burning.
| within our bosoms that spirit of patri-
otism which inspired our toretathcrs